Method of making handled carrying bags



June 26, s DAVIS METHOD OF MAKING HANDLED CARRYING BAGS Filed March 5. 1958 WEB TUB/1V6 SECOND INVENTOR. JOHN J. 0,4 V/S' 3,048,633 METHGD F ll/IAKING HANDLED CARRYING BAGS tion of New York Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 718,620 3 Claims. ((31. 93-35) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in handled carrying bags and to a method for making them, and is particularly concerned with paper bags of the type normally given away by retail merchants to their customers and which, therefore, must be produced as inexpensively as is commensurate with providing an attractive and strong bag equipped with carrying handles.

It is the present practice to make handled paper carrying bags either by applying the handles to the paper web before it is tubed and before the paper Web is separated into bag lengths, or else by stapling or pasting the handles to the web after the bag is made. If the handles have been applied to the web before tubing, the bag is then tubed such that the handles are superimposed on each other and the Web is then separated into bag lengths. One method utilized to separate the tubed paper web into bag lengths is to form a transverse perforated line in the web at bag length intervals before the handles are applied to the web. After the handles have been applied and the Web tubed, the tubed web is-separated into bag lengths by tensioning the tubed web at the transverse lines of perforations. This method of separating the tubed web into bag lengths has the disadvantage of weakening the paper web while it is passing through the bag making machine and consequently any undue tension on the web will cause it to separate at these lines of perforations resulting in a temporary shut down of the machine.

Another method utilized to separate the tubed web into bag lengths is to form slits in the paper web at bag length intervals before the handles are applied to the web. The area of the web which will ultimately be under the handles is provided with two longitudinal slits and a transverse slit interconnecting the two longitudinal slits. After the handles are applied and the web tubed, the tubed web is separated into bag lengths by a cut ofi knife which registers with the longitudinal slits instead of cutting transversely across the entire width of the tubed web. This is necessary so that the handles will remain projecting from the cut edge instead of being cut off from the web with thetube length. This method has the advantage of providing a stronger Web as it passes through the bag making machine, but has the disadvantage that if the knife making the transverse cut is misaligned such as to out beyond the longitudinal slits a tear point is created with a consequent weakening of the bag. Further, if the longitudinal cut extends beyond the transverse cut, there is a tear point created along the longitudinal slit remaining in the top of the bag. In order to minimize the creation of weak spots with this method, it is necessary that the ends of the longitudinal cuts coincide with the ends of the transverse cut. In addition, this method results in a bag that is unattractive.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved handled carrying bag and a method for making them which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art bags of this type and the method of making them.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide an improved handled carrying bag and a method of making them which produces attractive and stronger bags without any tear points.

Briefly stated, the present invention accomplishes these objects by providing the paper bag with transverse slits atent at bag length intervals and in an area adapted to underlie the cord handles. The ends of these slits have curved end portions. After the handles are attached to the web and the web tubed a transverse perforated line is provided on the web at bag lengths.- This perforated line extends from each edge of the web and registers with the curved ends of the slits. The tubed web is separated into bag lengths by tensioning the web at the transverse lines of perforations. Since the slits and their curved end portions are continuous the perforated line may register with the slits at any point along theircurved end portions without creating any tear points or weakening the bag in any manner. In this manner a bag may be produced which is stronger and more attractive than bags made by present methods.

For a better understanding of the present inventionas Well as further objects and features thereof reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like components in the several views are identified by like reference numerals. 1

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the'steps of the method of-this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the resulting improved handled carry bag of this invention, and

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of the top edge structure of the improved bag illustrated inFIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the paper bag web which is denoted generally by the numeral 10 is of sufficiently heavy paper for the purpose demanded of a carrying bag of conventional size, and is wide enough to permit it to be folded longitudinally along fold line 11 such that the outside edges 12 can overlap sufliciently to provide an adequately strong seam when the overlapped portions are adhesively secured together.

In forming a handled carrying bag in accordance with the method of the present invention the bag web 10 is first provided with transverse slits- 13 having curved end portions 14. These slits are formed at bag length intervals and on an area of the paper web 10 which is adapted to underlie the legs 15 of carrying handles 16. As illustrated in FIGURE 1', two transverse slits are provided at each bag length, a slit being provided for each handle 16. The length of the slits 13 are preferably greater than the distance between the legs 15 of the handles 16. In this manner when the handles 16 are positioned on the paper web 10 with the legs 15 overlapping the slits 13 the curved ends 14 are exposed and outside the area enclosed by the legs 15. The purpose for this will be presently described. The bag length intervals should be of such length thatenough material is provided to be folded and adhesively secured together to provide a bottom for the bag. I

After the slits 13 with their curved end portions 1d have been formed in the paper Web 10 the next step in the method of this invention is to secure the handles 16 to the web 10. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the leg portions 15 of the handles 16 are adhesively secured to the, paper web 10 by patch webs 17. The patch webs 17 are positioned on the paper web 10 spaced from the slits 13 and the ends 14 so'as not to interfere with the separation of the tubed web into bag lengths as will be presently described. The top portions of the handles 16 extend above the slits 13 and form the portion of the handle which will extend beyond the top of the resulting bag. After the handles 16 have been secured to the paper Web 10 the web may be tubed in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. It is to be noted that after the paper web hasbeen tubed the slits 13 and ends 14, as well as the handles 16 are substantially in registration.

In order to separate the tubed web into bag lengths trans- Patentecl June 26, 1962.

3 verse lines of perforations'ls are formed on the tubed web at bag length intervals. This perforate line 18 extends from the edges of the tubed web and registers with the curved end portions 14 of the slits 13. The perforate line 18 must be of such a length as to register with the curved portions 14 of the slits 13, but in the preferred form of the invention the perforate line 18 extends beyond the curved portions 14 such that at the point of intersection of the curved portion 14 with the perforate line 18 the paper bag is weakened for a purpose to be presently described. It is to be noted that since the curved ends 14 of the slits 13 are outside the area of the web 10 enclosed by the legs 15 of the handles 16 the transverse lines of perforations 18 may register with the curved ends 14, or extend slightly beyond, without contacting the legs 15 of the handles 16.

It is to be understood that although the perforate lines 18 are preferably formed after the handles 16 have been applied to the paper web 10 and the web tubed, the perforate line 18 may be formed as well after the handles 16 are secured to the web '10 but before the tubing operation.

Although this method is not illustrated in the drawings it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how this can be accomplished with a discontinuous perforating bar.

After the bag Web 10 has been provided with the transverse lines of perforations 18 the tubed Web is separated into bag lengths. This is accomplished'by tensioning the tubed web at the transverse lines of perforations 18, thereby separating the tubed web into bag lengths along the perforate lines '18, the curved ends 14 and the slits '13.

When the tubed web has been separated into bag lengths the top portion of the handles 16 project from the upper end of the bag lengths as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The

bottom of each bag length is formed in a conventional manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The method of this invention is particularly adaptable.

to producing handled carrying bags on modern high speed bag making machines. The rounded end portions 14 of the slits 13 serve to distribute the forces attendant to the tensioning step evenly over a substantial area of the web 10. Since there are, no sharp corners where stresses would be concentrated during the tensioning step, that step may be accomplished without tearing of the web when the bag.

lengths are separated. In addition the points where stresses are the highest, such, for example, as the intersection of the perforate line 18 with the curved portions 14, which is designated generally by the numeral 19, are the weakest across the web. Thus, when the Web is tensioned, failure will occur at those points first. so that there.

for example, as by improper operation of the bag making machine or during the handle and patch applying steps, the

web will not separate.

' The perforations forming the perforate lines 18 are preferably spaced close enough together so that the tensioning and separating step may be accomplished without the application of high stresses. Such perforations may be formed in any suitable manner which will reduce the strength of the web sufficiently, it being preferable to use notched knife blades which strike the web on one side of 4 the web while the other side is supported by a rubber roller. The manner of accomplishing this is well known to those skilled in the art.

It is to be noted that although the bar or knife utilized to form the perforate line 18 may be misaligned such that the point of intersection with the curved portions 14 varies, no tear points or weakening of the web occurs. This is dueto the fact that the slits 13 and their curved end portions '14 are continuous and formed in one operation.

The finished bag resulting from the method described above may be produced inexpensively. This is due to the adaptability of this method to high speed bag making machinery. Further the resulting bag, illustrated in FIG- URE 2, has soft upper edges which cannot cut the user and is therefore more satisfactory in use. In addition, the resulting product has a more pleasing appearance and greater strength than heretofore known bags.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, but changes and modifications can be made and some features may be used in different combinations without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In the manufacture of paper bags, having two projecting handles, by the process of forming transverse lines of partial web severance in a bag web at the locations of both handles and prior to the attachment of the handles thereto which project across these lines and, after said attachment, completing the severance of the web across its width along other transverse lines to sever the web into bag lengths with the handles projecting from the bag top ends of these lengths; the improvement which comprises forming the first transverse lines of severance with end portions at both ends of each of said first transverse lines, beyond both sides of its associated handle, extending in directions having longitudinal components in the direction of the top ends of the bags, and locating said other transverse lines in positions out of transverse alignment with the end portions of both of said first transverse lines but in positions to intersect portions of the first transverse lines which have said longitudinal components and at locations beyond the sides of the handles and below the extreme upper ends of said end portions so that the bag lengths are severed without longitudinal tears of the top edges of said bag lengths regardless of manufacturing tolerances in the relative locations of the first transverse lines and said other transverse lines lengthwise of said web.

I 2. The method described in claim 1 and in which each handle is secured to the web at a location spaced some distance below any part of the first transverse line across which the handle projects.

3. The method described in claim 1 and in which both of the first transverse lines are straight along at least a portion of the length of said first transverse lines and the other transverse lines are at locations along the length of the web longitudinally spaced from the straight portions of the first transverse lines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,910,449 Rose May 23, 1933 2,060,451 Steen Nov. 10, 1936 2,062,617 Steen Dec. 1, 1936 2,346,710 Steen Apr. 18, 1944 2,586,514 Canno Feb. 19, 1952 

